20 hours ago
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DAREECE POLO
Senior Reporter
People’s National Movement (PNM) chairman Marvin Gonzales has accused Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of deepening political and social divisions by signalling that the Government’s proposed special operations powers could be applied differently depending on which party controls a constituency.
Gonzales is commenting on the Special Operations Bill for the first time since its introduction in Parliament, following his recent return to Trinidad from a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in South Africa.
His comments come after Persad-Bissessar, on Monday, said the legislation would be used in constituencies controlled by the United National Congress, while Tobago would be included following consultation with Chief Secretary Farley Augustine.
Gonzales described the approach as divisive.
Speaking with Guardian Media outside Parliament yesterday, Gonzales said, “First to begin, I was not surprised. Nothing that the Prime Minister says will surprise me anymore. But she seems to be going to lower and lower and lower in her standards and the way that she speaks to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
“The Prime Minister is on a course to divide the people of this country along racial lines, along geographical lines, and other lines that will see Trinidad and Tobago becoming a very fragmented society.”
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has defended the Prime Minister’s position, saying PNM constituents should pressure their MPs to advocate for special operations in their communities.
Gonzales dismissed Alexander’s comments.
“It is to be expected and continue to expect more foolish statements from him. But I will not waste time to respond to Minister Alexander. My brain cannot really process anything that he says.”
Gonzales also rejected accusations that the PNM’s position was hypocritical, given its opposition to the bill while criticising the Government over its proposed application.
He said the party remained opposed to the legislation, arguing that the Government should instead address the underlying causes of crime and strengthen the criminal justice system.
“The PNM’s position has always been that this is bad legislation and this legislation is not good for the peace and good order of Trinidad and Tobago, that it will fragment our society, divide our society. It has been our consistent position that the Government should identify ways in which you tackle crime from a root-cause perspective. You cannot undermine, and you cannot remove all of the programmes that were put in place to give our people a fighting chance so that they can reform themselves.
“You cannot not bring legislation to ensure that we continue to have an effective judicial system, a criminal justice system. The Government is not prepared to do the hard work and they expect to run Trinidad and Tobago under emergency circumstances. The PNM’s position has always remained very consistent on this matter and, therefore, I don’t agree with those who say that the PNM’s position is hypocritical.”
Gonzales also warned that selective implementation could displace criminal activity into areas where special operations were not being conducted.
The Special Operations Bill was debated in the Senate yesterday, after being passed in the House of Representatives on Saturday.
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